Patents Assigned to FLIR System, Inc.
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Patent number: 7862188Abstract: Imaging systems in which an undedicated optical component—i.e., a component that would be present in the system even in the absence of image stabilization—is configured to undergo corrective motion and/or other correction of image data, and thus to function as a stabilization component. The stabilization component may be a mirror and/or a lens, and a positioner may be provided to tilt, rotate, and/or otherwise precisely adjust the position and orientation of the stabilization component to improve image resolution, compensate for platform motions, and/or improve image tracking. Because an undedicated optical component functions as the stabilization component, the stabilization occurs upstream, rather than downstream, from separation (if any) of the incoming image data into two or more beams.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Clifford J. Luty, Bruce A. Dickerson, Bruce Ellison, John L. Miller
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Patent number: 7851758Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a portable inspection system is disclosed to capture inspection data, such as for example an infrared image, sound information, and/or electrical measurement information. The inspection data may be securely recorded (e.g., with an encryption algorithm) along with associated information, which may include for example date, time, system settings, operator identification, and location.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tom Scanlon, James T. Woolaway, Robert P. Madding
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Publication number: 20100309315Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for infrared camera systems and methods for dual sensor applications. For example, in one embodiment, an enhanced vision system comprises an image capture component having a visible light sensor to capture visible light images and an infrared sensor to capture infrared images. The system comprises a first control component adapted to provide a plurality of selectable processing modes to a user, receive a user input corresponding to a user selected processing mode, and generate a control signal indicative of the user selected processing mode, wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes includes a visible light only mode, infrared only mode, and a combined visible-infrared mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Hogasten, Jeffrey S. Scott, Patrick B. Richardson, Jeffrey D. Frank, Austin A. Richards, James T. Woolaway
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Patent number: 7839291Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to monitor a body of water. For example in accordance with an embodiment, a system includes a first camera having a long wave infrared (LWIR) sensor to provide an image data stream of a body of water; means for analyzing the image data stream to determine if a person in the body of water is submerged; and means for providing an alert signal if the person is submerged for more than a specified period of time.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventor: Austin A. Richards
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Publication number: 20100283854Abstract: A compact optical payload for an unmanned aircraft includes two infrared cameras for wide and narrow field viewing, a daylight color camera, a laser pointer and a laser range finder.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen V. McKaughan, Philip A. Rombult, Robert J. Campbell, JR.
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Publication number: 20100266747Abstract: Systems, including apparatus and methods, for monitoring and controlling fabrication of thin-film coatings on a target substrate, thereby providing coatings with highly accurate thicknesses and indices of refraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: William B. Strickland
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Patent number: 7810251Abstract: A motorized leveling stage capable of adjusting the angular position of a work piece relative to a reference plane includes an upper stage, a lower stage, and a hinge coupling corresponding edges of the two stages together for relative pivotal movement of the stages. A first spring pivotally biases the upper and lower stages toward each other about the axis of the hinge. A slide is disposed for sliding movement on an upper surface of the lower stage in a direction generally perpendicular to the hinge axis. The slide includes an upper surface defining an inclined plane disposed in sliding abutment with a lower surface of the upper stage such that movement of the slide toward and away from the hinge respectively raises and lowers the upper stage relative to the lower stage. A motorized drive assembly is operable to control movement of the slide relative to the hinge.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Richard M. Goeden, Robert W. Dennis, Ronald W. Berry
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Patent number: 7796168Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating undesirable video flash in infrared camera systems are disclosed. A frame of video can be stored in a buffer and information related to the frame of video can be processed prior to displaying the video such that the processed information facilitates display of the video substantially without flashing. A display of a non-flashed frame can be frozen while a flash event would otherwise cause a flashed frame to be displayed. The shift in a histogram caused by a flash event or some portion thereof can be subtracted from pixels of an image. Thus, image quality can be substantially enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignees: Flir Systems, Inc., Autoliv Development ABInventors: Joseph Kostrzewa, Peter Hall, Ognjan Hedberg, Tobias Höglund, Leonard S. Araki, Douglas R. Kraemer
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Publication number: 20100185406Abstract: A system for an embodiment includes a sensor device having at least one sensor adapted to monitor at least one parameter associated with a circuit and selectively provide measurement information on the at least one parameter. The at least one sensor may include an electrical sensor adapted to monitor an electrical parameter of the circuit for the sensor device to selectively provide as the measurement information, and wherein the sensor device includes a wireless transceiver within the sensor device and is adapted to transmit the measurement information and receive control information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Joseph Blanchard
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Patent number: 7752742Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a sealed container having a reduced pressure atmosphere are disclosed. The container is suitable for housing an infrared detector array. Outgassing can be enhanced by adding features to solder preforms that maintain pathways for gasses to more readily exit the container prior to sealing thereof. Getters can be used to mitigate undesirable gases within the sealed container. One or more bolometers can be used to determine if the sealed container is leaking. A vacuum positioning fixture can be used to assemble the components of the infrared detector assembly and to place the infrared detector assemblies into a vacuum chamber. The cost of manufacturing such infrared detector assemblies may be reduced and the reliability thereof enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: Paul Schweikert, William J. Parrish, Andrew Sharpe, Vu L. Nguyen, Marco Scussat
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Publication number: 20100171377Abstract: A gimbal system. The gimbal system may include space-saving features configured to accommodate one or more payload components, thus increasing the payload capacity of the gimbal ball without necessarily increasing the outer dimensions of the gimbal ball. Alternatively, or in addition, the gimbal system may include a motor configured to move at least one gimbal relative to another gimbal about a first axis, with the motor peripherally mounted distal the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Aicher, Gregory D. Dent, Bruce Ellison, James H. Weaver, John M. Wiltse
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Patent number: 7749690Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide die identification. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a wafer patterning technique is disclosed that provides multiple-exposure patterning to provide a unique identifying mark for each die on a wafer.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: James T. Woolaway, Glenn T. Kincaid, Eric A. Kurth, Robert F. Zausch, Glenn E. Williams
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Patent number: 7750301Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein, as an example, to provide microbolometer resonant cavity tuning techniques and calibration techniques in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, in accordance with one embodiment, a method of operating an array of microbolometers on a substrate of an infrared camera system includes filtering infrared radiation to pass a first infrared radiation wavelength and to block a second infrared radiation wavelength, wherein the first infrared radiation wavelength is different than the second infrared radiation wavelength; setting a spacing between the microbolometers and the substrate to approximately tune the microbolometers to the second infrared radiation wavelength which is blocked by the filtering; and determining calibration data for the microbolometers.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: James T. Woolaway, Austin A. Richards
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Patent number: 7728275Abstract: A device for associating a circuit breaker with a circuit may have one or more sensors for remotely sensing that a circuit is active. When a sensor senses that a circuit is active, a transmitter may transmit a signal to a receiver that alerts a user. In this manner, the user may determine which of a plurality of different circuit breakers is associated with a particular circuit. This device mitigates the contemporary need to repeatedly turn off circuit breakers, go to the room in which the circuit is being monitored, and check to see if the circuit is active.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Blanchard
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Publication number: 20100128456Abstract: The present invention relates to a device package, such as an electronic system package, that is suitable for use in harsh military or commercial environments. The package components, including a base enclosure and mating cover, comprise a series of interconnected electrically conductive materials, forming a tortuous electrically conductive path, that advantageously shield electromagnetic interference (“EMI”). The electrically conductive, EMI-shielding layers and other coated layers (e.g., insulative electrocoated paint layers) are smooth layers that provide corrosion resistance to the interior and exterior surfaces of the package. The package is also designed such that its components form a water tight seal. Thus, innovatively, the package comprises a combination of components that synergistically shield electromagnetic interference, resist interior and exterior corrosion, and form a water tight seal. The package is configured to pass military specification EMI and salt fog standard testing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Hughes, James Hebert
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Patent number: 7679046Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide infrared camera systems and infrared camera calibration techniques in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example in accordance with an embodiment, a method of calibrating an infrared camera includes capturing video images of a calibration vessel having one or more chambers filled with a gas; displaying the video images from the capturing; and adjusting settings of the infrared camera such that colors of the displayed video images of the one or more chambers approximately match predetermined colors of one or more corresponding sections of a video overlay.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Patent number: 7679048Abstract: Systems and methods for microbolometer focal plane arrays provide for the selection of microbolometers within the microbolometer focal plane arrays. In accordance with an embodiment, a microbolometer focal plane array includes a plurality of microbolometers forming a microbolometer array, wherein contacts within the microbolometer array are shared by the microbolometers; a first plurality of switches adapted to provide a voltage to respective ones of the plurality of microbolometers; a second plurality of switches adapted to receive an output signal from respective ones of the plurality of microbolometers; and a third plurality of switches adapted to selectively short respective ones of the plurality of microbolometers in the microbolometer array.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: Naseem Y. Aziz, Robert F. Cannata
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Patent number: D611979Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, David F. Dinning, Mohammed Nasir, Kiran Devapalan, Anish Cherian Mathew, Rajkumar Palanivel
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Patent number: D618717Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Marcel Tremblay, Anke Scheiblhuber, Meng Xue, Jonathan Li, Yaohua Li
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Patent number: D619158Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Marcel Tremblay, Anke Scheiblhuber, Meng Xue, Jonathan Li, Yaohua Li